Joe was uncharacteristically nervous too. Love and teenage romance, for all it was a big deal, is a particularly touchy subject in this apartment. Heart shaped chocolate boxes are better left for other people. Roses completely nixed. Being romantic while not being a total sap, or insensitive to the stuff that reminded them of bad memories, or pressuring too hard for things Namine still felt unsure about... it was more stressful than a fun day should be.

There was a lot of jerk to make up for. Terra had reminded him a lot about what was important about caring for someone special. He'd been a pushy sort of idiot about the holiday with Roxas, jealous of how easily Xion seemed to be happily dating Ventus, and very aware of all the other girls in his life that could be a better match.

But Namine was his very first crush, and that cautious, pining affection he'd always hold, despite a mess of deception and ongoing identity crisis.

So he was determined to make this nice, and do it right. Make sure his clothes were clean and decent enough to be seen out in a fancy place with, washed down to a whole new pair of socks and no funky smells, and that his hair was not a bedheaded mess.

"You look really pretty like that" he told her when he saw her, bashful with a feeling like he was still a little too underdressed. "Are you all set? Ready to go? Need anything?"